EASTENDERS fans are dead set that an iconic character is set to return to the Square soon.
Eagle-eyed viewers of the BBC soap are convinced that Max Branning could be coming back.
Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Max Branning (Jake Wood)
Max – played by Jake Wood – was one of the show’s most infamous love rats.
He left the soap back in February 2021, following a huge fallout after his affair with Linda Carter.
Jake played Max on the soap for a whopping 15 years, and after previously denying he was returning, this time around fans are “certain”.
They’re claiming that two “giveaway” clues have made his return obvious.
The first hint that Max could be back on our screens is the recent return of two other huge characters over the past few days.
On Monday (December 12), Adam Woodyatt made a very unexpected return as Ian Beale.
This was for his character to attend the funeral of Dot Branning who was played by the legendary late June Brown.
The episode saw Ian watch Dot’s funeral from afar, picking up his phone to a mystery caller.
EastEnders’ Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw hasn’t stated who the mystery caller was, but has confirmed that it is someone that fans know already.
Many have taken this to believe it was Max at the other end of the line.
Ian wasn’t the only character to return, as Keanu Taylor (played by Danny Walters) came back more than two years after his exit from the soap.
Fans believe these returns mean it’s the perfect time for Max to come back to Albert Square.
And if those hints weren’t enough, fans also picked up on the regular mention of Max during Tuesday (December 13) night’s episode.
Lauren Branning (played by Jacqueline Jossa) had also returned for the funeral, and she is of course, Max’s daughter.
Chatting to Jack and Denise, Lauren said that dad Max hadn’t let go of his love rat ways, after she caught him in bed with her best friend.
She mentioned Max was with baby Abi, before calling Linda a “cow”.
It didn’t take long for the soap fans to take the information and run with it.
One wrote on Twitter: “Ian last night, Keanu tonight.
“Max will probably be a surprise comeback before the end of the week at this rate!”
Another speculated: “The max mentions in tonight’s episode…” followed by some cheeky eye emojis.
As a third wrote: “Max branning mentions? #EastEnders.”
And a fourth confidently said: “Max is definitely coming back on Christmas Day.”
Jake played character Max for over 15 years but left the soap in February 2021
